Magnifico Chaos

Mexico City is one of the most dynamic, mysterious and beautifully chaotic places on the planet.

Oct. 29, 2010 12:22 p.m. ET

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Caliente Spot: Rosetta. A power lunch place in an old townhouse in La Roma. They serve nouveau Italian food and Mexican dishes. You'll see older guys in suits, talk show hosts and local hipsters all eating together. Colima, 166
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Amore Potion No. 9: La Merced. It's great for small kitchen wares, but hidden away in the fray is Mercado Senora, or the "witches market." Locals go for herbal remedies, love potions and talismans. It's sacred: ask before taking pics. Anillo de Circunvalación between General Anaya and Adolfo Gurrión.
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Churrería El Moro. Stop by this Mexico City institution for the best churros (fried, donut-like strips of dough, coated in sugar) in the city. Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas, 42.
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Caliente Hotel: Condesa DF. This is the spot where in-the-know travellers are most likely to stay. At night, both hotel guests and actual Condesa residents hang out in the lush courtyard. Avenida Veracruz, 102; condesadf.com.
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Art Flock:7Museo Dolores Olmedo. This 16th-century hacienda, the former home of art collector Dolores Olmedo, holds the largest private collection of works by Diego Rivera. Avenida México, 5843; museodoloresolmedo.org.mx.
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Drink Like a Local: La Botica Mezcalería serves more than two dozen varieties of mezcal. Cute little pharmacy-style bottles of teeter along the walls. They're responsible for making this formerly down-market beverage relevant again. Campeche, 396; labotica.com.mx.
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Luche Libre: Arena México. This is a real spectacle, with guys in masks and crazy costumes. Here it's an art form.. If someone unmasks another that is the end of their career. Calle Dr. Lavista, 189; cmll.com.
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All-Needs Boutique: Magistral Concept Store. Set on the main shopping street in Polanco, the shop carries a high-end mix of clothing, home goods, art and design pieces by mostly up-and-coming Mexican designers, but also international designers including Comme des Garçons and Jason Wu. Masaryk, 495; magistralconceptstore.com.
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